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From June 5-7, 23 volunteers comprised of University of Maryland
Smith School of Business alumni,Executives from of Maryland companies
in China and friends traveled to Shexian, Huangshan city in Anhui
Province for a three-day trip supporting the installation process
of eight rural elementary school libraries.
These were eight of the thirty libraries that were funded by
the TEAM MARYLAND Fundraiser Dinner at Hyatt on the Bund Hotel
on November 27, 2009 in support of The Library Project, a non-profit
organization that provides books and libraries to schools and
orphanages in remote or impoverished areas in China.
A donation ceremony was held at Wuchuan Elementary School on
June 7 and presided by Mr.Changming XIANG, the Deputy Director-General
of Foreign Affairs Office of Anhui Province, Mr.Ning HU, Vice-chairman
of CPPCC Huangshan Committee and Mr. Ning SHAO, Chief Representative
of Maryland in China to address at the ceremony. The event held
special significance this year due to the celebration of the Anhui-Maryland
30-year anniversary of the sister state relationship. 30 years
ago, Anhui's leader Mr. Wan Li and Dr. John Toll, University of
Maryland President worked together to form one of the very first
sister state relationships between US and China. The thirty libraries
established through the cooperation of Maryland community are
dedicated to the children in Anhui, in the belief that education
is the path to the future, the best way to celebrate this historical
relationship and sincere friendship between the Chinese and American
people.
 Volunteers
from Smith School and well-known Maryland organizations such as
Black & Decker, Shanghai United Family Hospital, Perdue Farms
and Discovery Channel enjoyed the opportunity to engage with Chinese
children in rural schools that most of them have never experienced
otherwise. Not only did the participants devote themselves to
the physical work of establishing libraries �Ccategorizing books,
assembling furniture and bookshelves, they are also told historical
stories between Anhui Province and Maryland State, shared the
key aspects of Americanm culture and Chinese culture, and demonstrated the magnificent
learnings that can come from reading.
National and local media, such as the China News, Huangshan Morning
Post, Huangshan TV,Shexian TV and many local websites reported
the events. Pictures and press release information
is included below and we encourage everyone to stay involved �C
details about our next fundraising effort will come out soon!
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